Early-morning shape up at the Staten Island Mall

Friends Christine Gentiluomo and Elisa Gottfried, both of Great Kills, head to the Staten Island Mall, New Springville, at least twice a week after dropping their children off at school. Time passes quickly, as they chat and check out the window displays while maintaining a brisk walk.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NIVEN ABDELHAMID
NEW SPRINGVILLE — A trip to the Staten Island Mall may leave some feeling guilty. Either they’ve spent more money than they’d planned or they’ve over-indulged at the Food Court.

For mall walkers, though, a trip to Staten Island’s major shopping hub, is always uplifting. These early-risers lace up their workout sneakers and head to the Mall beginning at 7 a.m. The stores may still be shuttered, but the concourses are open for exercise.

The only feelings of guilt for members of this group come when they do not make it in for their workout.

“We try to walk three mornings a week, at least; when I miss it, I feel guilty,” said Janet Haas of Great Kills.

Mrs. Haas and her friend Marie Kapetanakis of Oakwood, try to walk for at least an hour each day.

“We usually walk outdoors in good weather. Starting in December, we walk here, because it’s cold. It’s very appreciated because it opens early,” she adds.

Mall doors open early to accommodate store employees, who usually start filing in a couple of hours before the shopping center’s official 10 a.m. open, to prepare for the day’s business. Along with the employees, mall walkers like Mrs. Haas and Mrs. Kapetanakis are welcomed to come in as part of the Staten Island Mall’s Mall Walkers Program.

Anyone can walk the mall for free, once they fill out a form with their name, address and emergency contact person. The form can be found on the mall’s Web site. Many people take advantage of the free exercise space each morning.

“The gym is too expensive and this is free,” said Elisa Gottfried of Great Kills.

A lap-and-a-half around the mall is equivalent to one mile.

WINDOW-SHOPPERS

Mrs. Gottfried and her friend, Christine Gentiluomo, also of Great Kills, head to the mall at least twice a week after dropping their children off at school. Time passes quickly for the two women. They check out the window displays while maintaining a brisk walk.

“We go window-shopping as we walk. When we come back to shop, we know exactly where to go,” said Mrs. Gentiluomo.

The benefits of mall walking extend beyond the convenience of having a free, indoor exercise space. For many, it’s an ideal time to catch up with friends.

“We mall-walk first for socialization,” says Ed Goldberg of Westerleigh. “It prevents depression. You start the morning with a walk and it’s healthy for the body and mind.”

Goldberg walks the mall each morning. When he’s done, he meets up with a large group of friends for coffee at the Food Court. His group is an eclectic mix of mall walkers, among them retired longshoremen, teachers and World War II veterans.

“We started mall walking eight years ago in small groups and merged together. We now do things outside the mall too,” said Goldberg.

For Goldberg and his friends, mall walking is an eight-year-old tradition; however, some people are accidental mall walkers. They stroll alone, waiting for stores to open. They are patrons who arrive a little too early for store hours and find themselves doing laps with the regulars.

Niven Abdelhamid is a freelance reporter. She can be reached through the newspaper at shores@siadvance.com.